Family

I know I haven’t posted in a bit, but I just wanted you to know why. My brother was admitted into ICU last Saturday for internal bleeding, and we made a flying trip (in the car) over to visit him this week as soon as he got out of ICU and was allowed to have child visitors. He looked good and I believe he is well on the road to recovery, but considering that he’s had around 15 units of blood products–blood, platelets and more–he’s got a ways to go. We’re just so thankful that he’s improving.

Anyway, I have lots that I want to post about, and I’ll get going on it soon, but in the mean time your prayers for my brother are very much coveted.

God bless!

My children love stories. I personally believe that reading books is a very important part of their education. I have even read studies that indicate that parents should be reading to their children when they are as young as 6 months old. I have tried to read to them since they were in utero. They have been very privileged the last month or so as they have been able to spend a little time with both sets of grandparents and who is better to have read a story to you than a grandparent.

G’tums settles on Papa’s lap for a good story. (As you can tell he really likes his new bicycle helmet.) We all enjoy listening to stories by Papa, because he embellishes them a little and leaves at least the adults laughing with his word twists.

The big kids cuddle with Nana in her bed for a good story. Nana is one of the best readers in the world. She loves reading stories to people. She’s even taken the time to record some chapter books on to CD for us to listen to. We all love them.

Even Grandma enjoys listening to Grandpa’s reading. Grandpa took the time to read a whole book to the whole family. Grandpa is the best at making strange noises and heavy accents for the different people or animals that he’s reading about. You can’t help but take time to listen to Grandpa read a story.

This has been an unusual December for us. We live in an area, where snow is rare. When we do get it, often the limbs start breaking off of the trees and landing on power lines and then we spend days without power. A couple of years ago, when we had quite a bit of snow, we were without power for 10 days. Our problem is that we live in a semi-rural area, near a large metropolitan area and so we are served last.

This December has been different though. We have had snow—lots of snow—more snow than we’ve ever had before. It’s been beautiful—lots of photo ops. It’s been slick—bad driving conditions. It’s been cold—I’ve been wearing my coat in the house. And we haven’t lost our electricity yet for even five minutes.

The kids love snow. They have been sledding and sledding and sledding.

My husband loves snow. He has been taking pictures and more pictures and more pictures. Here are some of my favorites that he took.

I don’t love snow. I have been trying to stay warm, but I did go sledding a little and I’ve taken a few pictures too.

I’m glad we’ve had all this snow and I’ll also be glad when it’s gone. But it’s made for a fun December.

My husband and I have been dragging our feet for years about getting our kids a pet. I’m already so busy, you know. Well, we finally gave in and agreed for the grandparents to get them a pet for Christmas. They and she safely arrived yesterday and we’ve had constant entertainment since. The kids are in love with her. They even went and bought her some outfits. So now they can see if she’ll be agreeable to dress-up. But she’s not a cat, she’s a dog, so they’re going to have to work hard at it. She’s not just any ole’ laid back dog either, she’s a Jack Russell, and let me tell you she has energy.

Now don’t you think she’s the cutest thing you ever saw?

Here are some pictures of three very happy children with their new pet. (They had just had grape juice before these were taken, hence the smiles.)

John Deere Boy loves the dog, but he’s getting over having a little fear, because she knows how to nip his toes. He loves to play with a little ping-pong like ball with her.

G’tums is excited to hold her and play with her, but he isn’t quite sure what’s okay and what’s not. He finally decided it was okay for her to stick her nose on his cheeks so they’re going to make it now, I think.

Zippy is thrilled. She was has been telling me for a week that the only thing she wants for her birthday is a dog. That’s not until March, so she got it even earlier. She’s pretty sure she knows everything about dogs, since she’s been wanting one so bad. She’ll be busy because she’s the one who will have to feed and water the dog and take it out and all that kind of stuff.

Oh, I almost forgot, her name is Sadie.

We had a very happy birthday in our home this weekend. John Deere Boy turned 6. His Grandma and Grandpa were able to drive all the way over from the other side of the state to spend the weekend with us then celebrate with us.

He received gum from his sister. An educational game from his grandparents and lots of Legos from his mommy and daddy and his other grandparents. He got to go to the Lego store and pick out his present this time. That was real highlight! He’s been busy building his town ever since.

Happy Birthday John Deere Boy!

I’ve decided to start blogging about our homeschool experience. Over the next few days, I hope to add some of the activities that we’ve done in the last 6 weeks, but this is my first entry, so let me tell you a little about myself and family. We have three children: daughter – 8, son – 5 and son – 2.  I’m a full time stay-at-home-mom. My husband is self-employed and has a home office, but spends most of his days working at his customers’ locations. Our home is in a semi-rural area.

We have chosen to homeschool because our fondest desire is for our entire family to be in heaven and we want to do our best to encourage our children that direction.

Well that’s us!!

9/27/08